a birthday present

Ela, a young college student, had embarked on a journey to South Korea to pursue her law degree. The new environment left her feeling both nervous and anxious due to her unfamiliar surroundings. Being far away from her friends and family in the Philippines made her heartache, but she was determined to make the most of her opportunity. In her free time, she found solace in her hobbies of crocheting and drawing, and she had a deep passion for playing games, which provided a much-needed escape from her worries. The challenge of leaving behind her loved ones was a difficult one, and it took her around 3 to 4 days to truly settle into her new life. During this time, she meticulously unpacked her belongings and gradually familiarized herself with the rhythm of her life in Korea.

On a particular day, during a leisurely stroll in a nearby park, Ela's gaze was captivated by the sight of a remarkable young man. His eyes bore a shade of purple reminiscent of a vibrant garden of violets, and his hair possessed a soft, fluffy quality to it. Engrossed in his work on a laptop, he sat beneath a nearby tree. Intrigued by his presence, Ela felt a mixture of nervousness and a compelling desire to strike up a conversation. She weighed the possible outcomes, pondering what harm could come from approaching him.

Summoning her courage, Ela initiated a conversation, and as the words left her lips, she experienced a mix of regret and anxiety. The handsome stranger noticed her and removed his earphones, responding in a friendly manner to her greeting. Her words stumbled as she attempted to converse, leading her to compliment his eyes in an almost impulsive manner. Her cheeks flushed a deep shade of red, but the man's reaction was one of confusion mixed with appreciation.

"Uh, hello," Ela managed to stammer out.

The man looked slightly taken aback but amused. "Uhm, hello? Can I help you?"

Caught off guard, Ela struggled to find her words, finally blurting out the first thing that came to her mind. "You've got pretty eyes!"

Ela's face turned even redder, and the man's confusion grew, but he replied graciously, "Oh, thank you very much?"

Feeling embarrassed and flustered, Ela quickly retreated, walking away as fast as she could, replaying the encounter in her mind over and over again. Her own reaction haunted her thoughts even during her dinner that night, as she contemplated the random encounter she had experienced earlier that day. She couldn't help but wonder about the stranger she had met in the park.

As he watched her hurry away, deep in thought, the young man couldn't shake the feeling of familiarity.

"I wonder... she seems so familiar," he mused to himself.

To distract herself from her persistent thoughts, Ela went to play roblox , where she met "Alan." Over the course of several months, they had become best friends online, bonding over their shared love for games. She eventually found herself opening up to Alan about the encounter in the park.

"Bro, you gotta listen to me," Ela typed.

"Yeah, yeah, what's up?" Alan replied.

Ela hesitated for a moment, her fingers hovering over the keyboard as she debated how to convey her thoughts.